JP6826246B2 - washing machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a washing machine.

The washing machine of Patent Document 1 has an outer tank which is a water storage tank, an inner tank arranged in the outer tank, a pumping channel provided on the side of the inner tank, and a pumping water arranged in the lower part of the inner tank. Including with wings. A large number of dehydration holes are formed in almost the entire peripheral side of the inner tank, and a water suction port is formed in the center of the bottom of the inner tank. The pumping channel has an inlet at the lower end and an outlet at the upper part. The pumping blade has a large number of pump blades on its lower surface. The water inlet faces the pump blades from below, and the water inlet faces the pump blades from the side. When the pumping blade is rotationally driven, the pumping blade sucks the washing water in the gap between the outer tank and the inner tank from the water suction port by the pump blade, raises the inside of the pumping channel from the water inlet, and goes inside from the water outlet. Discharge into the tank. By applying a large amount of washing water to the laundry in the inner tub, the washing power of the laundry can be improved.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-223638

In the washing machine of Patent Document 1, the water discharged into the inner tank from the outlet of the pumping channel flows out to the gap between the outer tank and the inner tank through the dehydration hole of the inner tank. Therefore, while the pump blades are rotationally driven, water circulates between the gap and the inner tank. In this configuration, when the amount of water discharged from the pumping channel into the inner tank by the pump blades exceeds the amount of water flowing out from the dehydration hole of the inner tank into the gap, the water in the gap disappears. , It becomes difficult to continue the circulation of water. If the circulation of water is not continued, the amount of water sprayed on the laundry in the inner tub will be reduced due to the circulation, which will reduce the cleaning power, and air biting will occur in the water circulation path, causing loud noise. Or something.

The present invention has been made under such a background, and in a configuration in which water is circulated so as to pass through an inner tank in which a cleaning object is housed to wash the cleaning object, the circulation of water can be continued. The purpose is to provide a washing machine that can be used.

The present invention has a first bottom wall, an annular first peripheral wall rising from the first bottom wall, and a first internal space surrounded by the first bottom wall and the first peripheral wall. 1 An outer tank in which water is stored in the internal space, a second bottom wall arranged above the first bottom wall, and an annular second peripheral wall rising from the second bottom wall and surrounded by the first peripheral wall. And a second inner space surrounded by the second bottom wall and the second peripheral wall, and a through hole for allowing water to flow between the second bottom wall and the second outer tank is formed in the second bottom wall and the second. An inner tank formed on the peripheral wall and accommodating an object to be cleaned in the second internal space, and a rotating member arranged on the upper side of the second bottom wall in the second internal space, and surrounding by rotating. A rotating member that allows water to flow in a direction away from the rotation axis of the rotating member, and water that flows in a direction away from the rotation axis due to the rotation of the rotating member are to be cleaned on the upper side of the rotating member in the second internal space. A cleaning machine including a supply path for supplying water to the cleaning area in which the water is arranged and an outflow path provided separately from the through hole in the second bottom wall and allowing water in the cleaning area to flow out to the rotating member side. is there.

Further, the present invention is characterized by including a blocking portion provided on the second bottom wall and blocking between the supply passage and the outflow passage.

Further, the present invention is characterized by including a guide flow path extending upward from the outflow path in the cleaning area and having an intake port at the upper part for taking in water in the cleaning area. To do.

Further, the present invention is characterized by including a filter member provided at the intake port.

Further, the present invention is characterized by including a guide portion formed on the second bottom wall and guiding water flowing through the outflow path to the rotating member.

According to the present invention, in the outer tank, water is stored in the first internal space surrounded by the first bottom wall and the annular first peripheral wall, and in the inner tank, the water is arranged above the first bottom wall. The object to be cleaned is housed in the second internal space surrounded by the two bottom walls and the annular second peripheral wall. Water can flow between the inner tank and the outer tank through the through holes formed in the second bottom wall and the second peripheral wall. Therefore, when water is stored in the first inner space, water also flows in the second inner space. Water also collects in the gap between the first bottom wall and the second bottom wall, and water also collects in the gap between the first peripheral wall and the second peripheral wall.
When the rotating member arranged on the upper side of the second bottom wall in the second internal space rotates, the water around the rotating member flows in a direction away from the rotation axis of the rotating member, and the supply path causes the rotating member in the second internal space. It is supplied to the cleaning area above. The water supplied to the cleaning area flows out into the gap between the first peripheral wall and the second peripheral wall through the through hole of the second peripheral wall, and then flows down into the gap between the first peripheral wall and the second peripheral wall. It returns to the periphery of the rotating member through the through hole in the second bottom wall. As a result, during the rotation of the rotating member, the water around the rotating member circulates so as to rise to the cleaning region and then return to the periphery of the rotating member. The water circulated in this way is exposed to the object to be cleaned as it passes through the cleaning area and contributes to the cleaning of the object to be cleaned.
An outflow passage provided separately from the through hole in the second bottom wall allows water in the cleaning region to flow out to the rotating member side. As a result, the water in the cleaning region can be positively sent to the rotating member side via the outflow path, so that it is possible to suppress a decrease in the water around the rotating member. Therefore, the rotating member can continue to flow the surrounding water to the supply path, so that the supply path can continue to supply water to the cleaning region. Therefore, the circulation of water can be continued.

Further, according to the present invention, since the blocking portion provided on the second bottom wall blocks between the supply passage and the outflow passage, the water flowing through the supply passage may leak into the outflow passage before reaching the cleaning region. , It is suppressed that the water flowing through the outflow path leaks to the supply path before flowing out to the rotating member side. As a result, water can flow to the destination without leakage in each of the supply channel and the outflow channel, so that the circulation of water can be surely continued.

Further, according to the present invention, since the guide flow path extending upward from the outflow path in the cleaning area takes in the water in the cleaning area from the intake port above the guide flow path, the water taken in the guide flow path is a guide flow. It runs down the road and flows into the outflow. In this case, since the intake port for taking in the water in the cleaning area into the outflow path can be arranged away from the cleaning object in the cleaning area upward, the intake port is not easily blocked by the cleaning object. As a result, the water in the cleaning region can be taken into the outflow path from the intake port via the guide flow path without interruption, and can continue to flow out to the rotating member side by the outflow path. Therefore, the circulation of water can be surely continued.
Further, since the intake port is located at the upper part of the guide flow path, it is difficult for foreign matter such as dust in the cleaning area to enter the intake port. Therefore, the intake port, the guide flow path, and the outflow path can be widened without considering the intrusion of foreign matter. Therefore, since a large amount of water from the cleaning region can be taken into the guide flow path and the outflow path from the intake port and circulated, the water circulation efficiency can be improved.

Further, according to the present invention, foreign matter in the cleaning area can be captured by the filter member provided at the intake port. As a result, the intake port can be widened without considering the intrusion of foreign matter. Therefore, since a large amount of water from the cleaning region can be taken into the guide flow path and the outflow path from the intake port and circulated, the water circulation efficiency can be further improved.

Further, according to the present invention, since the guide portion formed on the second bottom wall guides the water flowing through the outflow path to the rotating member, it is possible to further suppress the decrease of the water around the rotating member. Therefore, the rotating member can surely continue to flow the surrounding water to the supply path, so that the circulation of water can be surely continued.

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the internal structure of the washing machine. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the washing machine according to the modified example.

Hereinafter, the washing machine 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. The cleaning machine 1 is a device for cleaning the object to be cleaned Q. An example of the object to be washed Q is laundry such as clothes, and the washing machine 1 in this case is a washing machine. Another example of the object to be cleaned Q is fruits and vegetables. The washing machine 1 may have a function of drying the object to be washed Q.

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the washing machine 1. First, an outline of the washing machine 1 will be described with reference to the vertical direction Z in FIG. Of the vertical directions Z in the vertical direction, the upper side is referred to as the upper side Z1 and the lower side is referred to as the lower side Z2. The washing machine 1 is provided in a box-shaped housing (not shown), an outer tank 3 arranged in the housing, an inner tank 4 rotatable in the outer tank 3, and an inner tank 4. It includes an arranged partition member 5, a pumping member 6, a guide member 7, and a rotating member 8, and a motor 9 for rotating the inner tank 4 and the rotating member 8.

The outer tank 3 is made of resin, for example, and is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having a central axis extending in the vertical direction Z. The outer tank 3 has a disc-shaped first bottom wall 3A having a plate thickness direction substantially coincided with the vertical direction Z, and an annular shape rising from the outer peripheral portion of the first bottom wall 3A to the upper side Z1, specifically, an annular first. It has one peripheral wall 3B. The first bottom wall 3A and the first peripheral wall 3B are coaxially connected, and a substantially columnar first internal space 11 surrounded by the first bottom wall 3A and the first peripheral wall 3B is formed in the outer tank 3. To. The first internal space 11 is exposed to the upper side Z1 by the circular opening 3C partitioned by the upper end of the first peripheral wall 3B. The opening 3C is opened and closed by a cover (not shown) connected to the upper end of the first peripheral wall 3B. Water such as tap water, bath water, and a liquid in which detergent is dissolved is stored in the first internal space 11 from the first bottom wall 3A side.

The inner tank 4 has a central axis extending in the vertical direction Z, and is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape that is one size smaller than the outer tank 3. That is, the inner tank 4 is in a vertically arranged state. The inner tank 4 has a disc-shaped second bottom wall 4A having a plate thickness direction substantially coincided with the vertical direction Z, and an annular shape rising from the outer peripheral portion of the second bottom wall 4A to the upper side Z1, specifically, an annular first. It has two peripheral walls 4B. For example, in the second bottom wall 4A, the inner portion 4C near the central axis is made of metal, the annular outer portion 4D away from the central axis is made of resin, and the outer edge portion 4E of the outer portion 4D is , Formed in an annular shape overhanging the upper Z1. Most of the second peripheral wall 4B is made of metal, but the outer edge portion 4E of the outer portion 4D made of resin may be regarded as the lower end portion of the second peripheral wall 4B. The second bottom wall 4A and the second peripheral wall 4B are coaxially connected. The lower end of the second bottom wall 4A and the second peripheral wall 4B constitutes the bottom of the inner tank 4.

In the inner tank 4, a substantially columnar second internal space 12 surrounded by a second bottom wall 4A and a second peripheral wall 4B is formed. The second internal space 12 is in a state of being exposed to the upper side Z1 by the circular entrance 4F partitioned by the upper end of the second peripheral wall 4B. The cleaning object Q is housed in the second internal space 12. The inner tank 4 is coaxially housed in the outer tank 3. The inner tank 4 can rotate about a central axis passing through the center of the circle. The central axis of the inner tank 4 is called the rotation axis J. In the following, the circumferential direction around the rotation axis J is referred to as the circumferential direction S, and the radial direction centered on the rotation axis J is referred to as the radial direction R. The circumferential direction S and the radial direction R are both directions along the horizontal direction H. Of the radial directions R, the direction approaching the rotation axis J is referred to as the radial inner R1 and the direction away from the rotation axis J is referred to as the radial outer R2.

In the inner tank 4 housed in the outer tank 3, the second bottom wall 4A is arranged on the upper Z1 of the first bottom wall 3A so as to overlap the first bottom wall 3A in a non-contact manner, and the second peripheral wall 4B is arranged. It is in a state of being surrounded from the radial outer side R2 by the first peripheral wall 3B in a non-contact state with the first peripheral wall 3B. The doorway 4F communicates with the opening 3C from the lower side Z2, and the opening 3C and the doorway 4F are collectively opened and closed by the cover (not shown) described above. The user of the washing machine 1 can put the cleaning object Q in and out of the second internal space 12 of the inner tank 4 through the open doorway 4F. A plurality of through holes 4G are formed in each of the second bottom wall 4A and the second peripheral wall 4B, and the water in the outer tank 3 passes between the outer tank 3 and the inner tank 4 via the through holes 4G. You can come and go. From this, when water is accumulated in the first internal space 11, water is also accumulated in the second internal space 12 at the same water level L as the first internal space 11, and the gap between the first bottom wall 3A and the second bottom wall 4A. Water also collects in V, and water also collects in the gap W between the first peripheral wall 3B and the second peripheral wall 4B. The plurality of through holes 4G formed in the second bottom wall 4A are arranged at positions biased toward the inner diameter R1 in the radial direction, specifically, in the inner portion 4C at intervals in the circumferential direction S.

An annular balancer 13 is attached to the upper end of the inner peripheral surface 4H that partitions the second internal space 12 from the radial outer side R2 on the second peripheral wall 4B. The balancer 13 reduces the vibration of the inner tank 4 during rotation, and the cavity 13A inside the balancer 13 contains a liquid, for example, salt water, which contributes to the reduction of vibration.

On the upper surface portion of the second bottom wall 4A, a concave arrangement region 14 recessed one step toward the lower side Z2 is formed. The arrangement area 14 is a vertically flat columnar space coaxial with the second bottom wall 4A. The arrangement region 14 is surrounded by the outer edge portion 4E of the outer portion 4D of the second peripheral wall 4B from the radial outer side R2.

An outflow path 15 is provided in the second bottom wall 4A at a position different from that of the through hole 4G, specifically, inside the outer portion 4D. Therefore, at least a part of the outer portion 4D is formed hollow. The outflow path 15 extends from the end face portion of the radial inner R1 in the outer portion 4D to the radial outer R2, curves to the upper Z1 along the outer edge portion 4E of the outer portion 4D, and is exposed from the outer edge portion 4E to the upper Z1. To. In the outflow passage 15, the portion exposed from the outer edge portion 4E to the upper side Z1 is the inlet 15A, and the portion exposed from the end face portion of the radial inner R1 to the radial inner R1 in the outer portion 4D is the outlet 15B. .. The outlet 15B is arranged so as to be displaced toward the outer side R2 in the radial direction with respect to the through hole 4G of the inner portion 4C of the second bottom wall 4A, and is in a state of directly communicating with the arrangement region 14. A plurality of outflow passages 15 may be provided, in which case the plurality of outflow passages 15 are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction S.

The partition member 5 is a disk-shaped lid having a central axis that coincides with the rotation axis J and is flat in the horizontal direction H, and covers almost the entire area of the arrangement region 14 from the upper Z1 in the inner tank 4. It is attached. The second internal space 12 is vertically partitioned by the partition member 5 into the arrangement area 14 and the cleaning area 16 of Z1 above the arrangement area 14. The arrangement area 14 is a small area that occupies the lower end of the second internal space 12, while the cleaning area 16 is an area that occupies most of the second internal space 12 and is cleaned in the second internal space 12. The object Q is arranged in the cleaning region 16 of Z1 above the partition member 5.

A plurality of communication ports 5A are formed on the outer peripheral portion of the partition member 5 away from the rotation axis J at intervals in the circumferential direction S (see FIG. 2). Each communication port 5A is in a state of penetrating the outer peripheral portion of the partition member 5 in the vertical direction Z and communicating the outer peripheral portion of the arrangement region 14 with the cleaning region 16. A grid 5B may be provided in each communication port 5A, or a plurality of through holes 5C may be formed together on the rotation axis J side in the partition member 5 (see FIG. 2). The inlet 15A of the outflow passage 15 described above is substantially the same as the communication port 5A in the vertical direction Z, and is arranged so as to face the cleaning region 16 from the lower side Z2 at a position adjacent to the communication port 5A from the radial outer side R2. ..

The water pumping member 6 is formed in a gutter shape that bulges in the radial inner direction R1 and extends in the vertical direction Z, and in the cleaning region 16, from the radial inner side R1 with respect to the inner peripheral surface 4H of the second peripheral wall 4B of the inner tank 4. It is attached. The through hole 4G does not exist in the portion of the inner peripheral surface 4H facing the pumping member 6. The upper end of the pumping member 6 is connected to the balancer 13 from the lower side Z2. A plurality of pumping members 6 may be provided, in which case the plurality of pumping members 6 are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction S. At the upper end of the side surface of the radial inner side R1 of the pumping member 6, for example, a slit-shaped discharge port 6A extending in the circumferential direction S is formed so as to face the rotation axis J from the radial outer side R2. A pumping channel 17 extending in the vertical direction Z is formed between the pumping member 6 and the inner peripheral surface 4H. The upper end of the pumping channel 17 is exposed from the discharge port 6A to the inner side R1 in the radial direction. The lower end of the pumping channel 17 is called a suction port 17A. The suction port 17A is connected from the upper side Z1 to a portion of the outer peripheral portion of the arrangement region 14 that is not covered by the partition member 5. The inlet 15A of the outflow passage 15 described above is located on the outer side R2 of the suction port 17A in the radial direction R.

The guide member 7 is formed in a gutter shape extending in the vertical direction Z like the pumping member 6, and is attached to the inner peripheral surface 4H of the second peripheral wall 4B of the inner tank 4 from the radial inner side R1 in the cleaning region 16. .. The through hole 4G does not exist in the portion of the inner peripheral surface 4H facing the guide member 7. The guide members 7 are provided corresponding to the outflow passages 15 of the second bottom wall 4A of the inner tank 4, and when there are a plurality of outflow passages 15, the same number as the outflow passages 15 are provided and are arranged in the circumferential direction S. Be placed. The upper end of the guide member 7 is arranged away from the balancer 13 toward the lower side Z2, and is arranged near the center of the second internal space 12 in the vertical direction Z, specifically, at a position slightly shifted from the center to the upper side Z1.

A guide flow path 18 is formed between the guide member 7 and the inner peripheral surface 4H of the inner tank 4. The guide flow path 18 is connected to the inlet 15A of the corresponding outflow path 15 from the upper Z1 and extends from the outflow path 15 to the upper Z1 in the cleaning region 16. Therefore, the inlet 15A is not directly exposed to the cleaning area 16. The upper part of the guide flow path 18, specifically the upper end part, is formed as an intake port 18A so as to face the rotation axis J from the side surface of the radial inner side R1 in the guide member 7. The intake port 18A is set so as to be arranged in the vertical direction Z at the same level as the water level L in the first internal space 11 or below the water level L Z2. The guide member 7 includes a grid 7A arranged at the intake port 18A.

A filter unit 19 is provided at the intake port 18A. The filter unit 19 includes a filter member 19A that covers the intake port 18A from the radial inner side R1, and a holding member 19B that holds the filter member 19A. The filter member 19A is composed of a net, a sponge, or the like. The holding member 19B is formed in a frame shape having an opening 19C, and is fixed to the guide member 7 in a state where the filter member 19A is held so as to be exposed from the opening 19C to the inner side R1 in the radial direction.

The rotating member 8 is arranged in the arrangement region 14 on the upper side Z1 of the second bottom wall 4A in a state of being non-contact with both the second bottom wall 4A of the inner tank 4 and the partition member 5. In this case, the outer edge portion 4E provided with the inlet 15A of the outflow path 15 in the outer portion 4D of the second bottom wall 4A surrounds the rotating member 8 from the radial outer side R2 in a non-contact manner. Further, the cleaning region 16 is arranged on the upper side Z1 of the rotating member 8 in the arrangement region 14. The rotating member 8 is radially outer R2 in a state of being erected between the disk-shaped top plate portion 20 and the bottom plate portion 21 arranged coaxially with the inner tank 4 and the top plate portion 20 and the bottom plate portion 21. It has a plurality of blade portions 22 formed in a fin shape extending radially to. At the center of the circle of the bottom plate portion 21, a circular intake port 21A that penetrates the bottom plate portion 21 in the vertical direction Z is formed. A water channel 23 extending from the intake port 21A to the outer side R2 in the radial direction is formed between the blade portions 22 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction S. Each water channel 23 is in a state of being blocked from above and below by the top plate portion 20 and the bottom plate portion 21. The end of the radial outer R2 in each water channel 23 is an outlet 23A exposed to the radial outer R2. The bottom plate portion 21 may be omitted.

In the arrangement region 14, the outer peripheral portion of the radial outer side R2 of the rotating member 8 has an outer region 14A sandwiched from the radial direction R by the outer edge portion 4E of the outer portion 4D of the second bottom wall 4A and the rotating member 8. To do. Each communication port 5A of the partition member 5 and a portion to which the corresponding communication port 5A is connected in the outer region 14A form a supply path 25A. The pumping channel 17 and the portion of the outer region 14A to which the suction port 17A of the pumping channel 17 is connected form a supply path 25B. The supply path 25A and the supply path 25B may be collectively referred to as the supply path 25.

The inlet 15A of the outflow path 15 of the outer portion 4D of the second bottom wall 4A is located on the radial outer side R2 of at least one of the supply paths 25A. A portion of the outer portion 4D that blocks the outflow passage 15 from the upper Z1 constitutes a blocking portion 4I. The blocking portion 4I is formed in a plate shape extending substantially horizontally to the outer side R2 in the radial direction and then extending to the upper side Z1 while being curved. The portion of the cutoff portion 4I that extends to the upper side Z1 while being curved is located between the supply passage 25A and the portion of the outflow passage 15 on the inlet 15A side, and is in a state of blocking between the supply passage 25A and the outflow passage 15. It is in.

A guide portion 4J is formed on the outer portion 4D of the second bottom wall 4A. The guide portion 4J is formed in a plate shape in which the outflow passage 15 is closed from the lower side Z2 as a part of the outer portion 4D. The upper surface of the guide portion 4J facing the outflow path 15 is formed so as to be inclined toward the upper side Z1 as it extends outward in the radial direction R2 along the outflow path 15.

The motor 9 is arranged in the lower Z2 of the first bottom wall 3A of the outer tank 3 inside the housing (not shown) of the washing machine 1. The output shaft of the motor 9 branches into a tubular first transmission shaft 31 extending to the upper side Z1 and a second transmission shaft 32 inserted with play with respect to the first transmission shaft 31. The motor 9 can selectively output the driving force from either the first transmission shaft 31 or the second transmission shaft 32 via a known transmission mechanism 33 or the like.

The first transmission shaft 31 extends to the upper side Z1, penetrates the circular center portion of the first bottom wall 3A, and is connected to the circular center portion of the second bottom wall 4A of the inner tank 4. The upper end of the first transmission shaft 31 has a flange portion 31A overhanging in a flange shape, and the flange portion 31A is fixed to the inner portion 4C of the second bottom wall 4A from the lower side Z2, whereby the inner tank It is connected to 4. When the motor 9 is driven and the driving force is transmitted to the first transmission shaft 31, the inner tank 4 rotates around the rotation axis J. The upper end portion 32A of the second transmission shaft 32 protruding from the upper end Z1 than the flange portion 31A is inserted from the lower side Z2 into the intake port 21A of the bottom plate portion 21 of the rotating member 8 and is the circular center of the top plate portion 20. It is fixed to the part. When the motor 9 is driven and the driving force is transmitted to the second transmission shaft 32, the rotating member 8 rotates around the rotation axis J.

The operation performed in the washing machine 1 includes, for example, a washing step, a rinsing step, and a dehydration step. The washing step and the rinsing step may be collectively referred to as a washing step. When the washing step is started, water containing detergent is supplied to the second internal space 12 of the inner tank 4 and is stored in the outer tank 3 and the inner tank 4. In this state, the motor 9 is driven and the rotating member 8 rotates. While the rotating member 8 is rotating, the inner tank 4 is in a stopped state. Water existing around the rotating member 8 in the arrangement region 14, specifically, in the lower Z2 of the rotating member 8, is taken into the bottom plate portion 21 by the centrifugal force due to the rotation of the rotating member 8, as shown by the solid arrow. It flows from 21A into each water channel 23 and flows through each water channel 23 to the outer side R2 in the radial direction. Then, the water existing in the gap V between the first bottom wall 3A of the outer tank 3 and the second bottom wall 4A of the inner tank 4 flows from the through hole 4G of the second bottom wall 4A in accordance with the rotation of the rotating member 8. It is sucked into the arrangement region 14 and flows through each water channel 23 to the radial outer side R2 via the intake port 21A. The water that has flowed to the outer side R2 in the radial direction due to the rotation of the rotating member 8 flows out from the outlet 23A of the water channel 23 and then reaches each supply channel 25.

The water that has reached the supply path 25A is pushed by the subsequent water accompanying the rotation of the rotating member 8 and is supplied so as to be vigorously blown out from the communication port 5A to the cleaning region 16 to the upper Z1 as shown by the solid arrow. Will be done. The water that has reached the supply path 25B is pushed by the subsequent water accompanying the rotation of the rotating member 8 and ascends in the supply path 25, that is, in the pumping channel 17, as shown by the solid arrow, and the pumping member 6 It is supplied so as to be vigorously blown out from the discharge port 6A and poured into the cleaning area 16. In this way, the water blown out from the communication port 5A and the discharge port 6A to the cleaning area 16 in response to the rotation of the rotating member 8 generates a water flow in the cleaning area 16. The cleaning target Q is washed by exposing the cleaning target Q to the cleaning target area 16 or stirring the cleaning target Q. In addition, the detergent contained in the water decomposes the dirt on the object to be cleaned Q.

The water supplied to the cleaning region 16 flows out to the gap W between the first peripheral wall 3B and the second peripheral wall 4B through the through hole 4G of the second peripheral wall 4B, and as shown by the broken line arrow, the first bottom wall. After flowing down into the gap V between the 3A and the second bottom wall 4A, it is attracted to the rotating rotating member 8 and returns to the periphery of the rotating member 8 in the arrangement region 14 through the through hole 4G of the second bottom wall 4A. .. The water taken into the arrangement region 14 is again blown out to the cleaning region 16 from the communication port 5A and the discharge port 6A through each water channel 23 by the rotation of the rotating member 8. That is, during the rotation of the rotating member 8, the water around the rotating member 8 rises to the cleaning region 16 and then passes through the first path K1 composed of the through hole 4G, the gap W, and the gap V. As a result, it circulates so as to return to the periphery of the rotating member 8. When the circulating water passes through the cleaning area 16 of the inner tank 4, it is exposed to the cleaning object Q as described above and contributes to the cleaning of the cleaning object Q.

However, due to the high rotation speed of the rotating member 8 or the large amount of water flowing through each water channel 23, the amount of water blown out from the communication port 5A and the discharge port 6A to the cleaning area 16 is the first path K1. It may exceed the amount of water returning to the periphery of the rotating member 8 via. In this case, the water in the first path K decreases during the rotation of the rotating member 8. As a result, the amount of water blown out to the cleaning region 16 is extremely reduced, and in the worst case, the circulation of water may be stopped. Further, there is a possibility that a large noise is generated due to the occurrence of air biting in the first path K1 or the like. On the other hand, it is difficult to secure a wide first path K1 in order to increase the amount of water returned from the washing region 16. In particular, since the inner portion 4C in which the through hole 4G is formed in the second peripheral wall 4B is a component fixed to the flange portion 31A of the first transmission shaft 31, it is necessary to secure a large through hole 4G in the inner portion 4C. There is a limit.

Therefore, when the water level L in the cleaning region 16 is the same as the intake port 18A of the guide flow path 18 or is located in Z1 above the intake port 18A, the water in the cleaning region 16 is indicated by the alternate long and short dash line arrow. As shown, the opening 19C of the holding member 19B of the filter unit 19, the filter member 19A, and the intake port 18A pass in order, are taken into the guide flow path 18, and flow down the guide flow path 18. The water that has flowed down the guide flow path 18 flows into the outflow path 15 from the inlet 15A of the outflow path 15 as indicated by the arrow of the alternate long and short dash line, and flows to the rotating member 8 side while falling along the outflow path 15. At that time, the guide portion 4J that blocks the outflow passage 15 from the lower side Z2 in the outer portion 4D of the second bottom wall 4A guides the water flowing through the outflow passage 15 to the rotating member 8 by directing the water flowing through the outflow passage 15 toward the inner diameter R1. The water thus discharged from the cleaning region 16 toward the rotating member 8 side by the outflow passage 15 flows out from the outlet 15B to the portion Z2 below the rotating member 8 in the arrangement region 14. Then, the water that has flowed out in this way is blown out to the cleaning region 16 from the communication port 5A and the discharge port 6A again through each of the water channels 23 by the rotation of the rotating member 8. That is, during the rotation of the rotating member 8, the water in the second internal space 12 of the inner tank 4 reaches the arrangement region 14 by passing through the second path K2 composed of the guide flow path 18 and the outflow path 15. It circulates with the cleaning area 16.

When such circulation of water is repeated for a predetermined time, the rotation of the rotating member 8 is stopped, and the water in the outer tank 3 and the inner tank 4 is discharged from the drainage channel (not shown) connected to the outer tank 3 to the outside of the machine. It is drained. This completes the washing process. Following the washing step, a rinsing step is started. In the rinsing step, detergent-free water, for example tap water, is supplied to the second internal space 12 of the inner tank 4 and stored in the outer tank 3 and the inner tank 4. In this state, the motor 9 is driven and the rotating member 8 rotates. Even in the rinsing process, the inner tank 4 is in a stopped state. Due to the rotation of the rotating member 8, the water in the second internal space 12 of the inner tank 4 is blown out from the communication port 5A and the discharge port 6A to the cleaning area 16 to generate a water flow in the cleaning area 16 as in the case of the washing step. However, it circulates between the arrangement region 14 and the cleaning region 16 via the first path K1 and the second path K2. The cleaning target Q is washed away by being exposed to the cleaning target Q in the cleaning region 16 or by stirring the cleaning target Q.

When such circulation of water is repeated for a predetermined time, the rotation of the rotating member 8 is stopped, and the water in the outer tank 3 and the inner tank 4 is drained. This completes the rinsing process. The rinsing process may be repeated multiple times. Following the rinsing step, a dehydration step is started. In the dehydration step, the motor 9 is driven and only the inner tank 4 rotates at high speed. As a result, a centrifugal force acts on the cleaning object Q in the inner tank 4, so that the cleaning target Q is dehydrated by being pressed against the inner surface of the inner tank 4, that is, the inner peripheral surface 4H of the second peripheral wall 4B. The water exuded from the cleaning object Q due to dehydration is drained. The dehydration step may be carried out as an intermediate dehydration step immediately after the washing step or immediately after each rinsing step, in which case the dehydration step immediately after the final rinsing step is the final dehydration step. When the final dehydration step is completed, the operation of the washing machine 1 is completed.

The washing machine 1 may include a drying unit (not shown) that supplies warm air into the inner tank 4 after the final dehydration step. In this case, the washing machine 1 can execute a drying step of drying the cleaning object Q in the inner tank 4 with the warm air of the drying unit. In the drying step, the cleaning target Q in the inner tank 4 is agitated by the rotation of the inner tank 4, so that the entire cleaning target Q can be evenly exposed to warm air.

As described above, in the washing machine 1, the outflow path 15 causes the water in the washing region 16 to flow out to the rotating member 8 side during the rotation of the rotating member 8 in the washing step and the rinsing step. As a result, the water in the cleaning region 16 can be positively and quickly sent to the rotating member 8 side via the second path K2, which is shorter than the first path K1, so that the water around the rotating member 8 is reduced. Can be suppressed. Therefore, since the rotating member 8 can continue to flow the surrounding water to the supply path 25, the supply path 25 can continue to supply the water to the cleaning region 16. Therefore, the circulation of water can be continued efficiently. Further, since a large amount of water can be circulated by using two paths, the first path K1 and the second path K2, the cleaning power can be increased by exposing the cleaning object in the cleaning area 16 to a large amount of water. You can improve.

Further, since the blocking portion 4I provided on the second bottom wall 4A blocks between the supply passage 25 and the outflow passage 15, the water flowing through the supply passage 25 leaks into the outflow passage 15 before reaching the cleaning region 16. Further, it is suppressed that the water flowing through the outflow passage 15 leaks to the supply passage 25 before flowing out to the rotating member 8 side. As a result, water can flow to the destination in each of the supply channel 25 and the outflow channel 15 without leakage, so that the circulation of water can be reliably continued.

Further, since the guide flow path 18 extending from the outflow path 15 to the upper side Z1 in the cleaning area 16 takes in the water in the cleaning area 16 from the intake port 18A above the guide flow path 18, the water taken in the guide flow path 18 is guided. It flows down the flow path 18 and flows into the outflow path 15. In this case, since the intake port 18A for taking in the water in the cleaning area 16 into the outflow passage 15 can be arranged away from the cleaning object Q in the cleaning area 16 to the upper side Z1, the cleaning object Q takes in. It is possible to prevent the intake port 18A from being blocked by clinging to the port 18A. As a result, the water in the cleaning region 16 can be taken into the outflow path 15 from the intake port 18A via the guide flow path 18 without interruption, and can continue to flow out to the rotating member 8 side through the outflow path 15. Therefore, the circulation of water can be surely continued.

Further, since the intake port 18A is located above the guide flow path 18, foreign matter such as dust and lint in the cleaning area 16 is unlikely to enter the intake port 18A. Further, when the water in the cleaning region 16 is taken into the intake port 18A, the filter member 19A provided in the intake port 18A can capture foreign substances such as dust and lint contained in the water. Therefore, the intake port 18A, the guide flow path 18, and the outflow path 15 can be widened without considering the intrusion of foreign matter. Therefore, since a large amount of water from the cleaning region 16 can be taken into the guide flow path 18 and the outflow passage 15 from the intake port 18A and circulated, the water circulation efficiency can be improved.

Further, since the guide portion 4J formed on the second bottom wall 4A guides the water flowing through the outflow passage 15 to the rotation axis J side of the rotating member 8, it is possible to further suppress the decrease of the water around the rotating member 8. .. Therefore, the rotating member 8 can surely continue to flow the surrounding water to the supply path 25, so that the circulation of water can be surely continued.

The second bottom wall 4A may be formed with a through hole 4K that allows the outflow passage 15 to communicate with the gap V between the first bottom wall 3A and the second bottom wall 4A from the upper side Z1. The water flowing from the cleaning region 16 to the outflow passage 15 flows out from the through hole 4K to the gap V as indicated by the arrow of the alternate long and short dash line, and then flows out to the gap V in accordance with the rotation of the rotating member 8, and then the through hole 4G of the second bottom wall 4A Is taken into the intake port 21A of the rotating member 8 and flows through each water channel 23 to the outer side R2 in the radial direction. Also in this case, the outflow path 15 causes the water in the cleaning region 16 to flow out to the rotating member 8 side via the through hole 4K and the gap V. By the way, since the through hole 4G of the second bottom wall 4A tends to actively suck the nearby water into the arrangement region 14, the guide portion 4J preferentially supplies the water flowing through the outflow passage 15 to the through hole 4G. This makes it possible to reliably prevent the water in the first path K1 from running out during the rotation of the rotating member 8. The through hole 4K may be formed at an intermediate position between the inlet 15A and the outlet 15B in the outflow path 15 in the radial direction R. Alternatively, the through hole 4K may be located at substantially the same position as the inlet 15A in the radial direction R, that is, directly below the inlet 15A. In that case, the through hole 4K also serves as the outlet 15B, and the guide portion 4J is omitted. May be done.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the washing machine 1 according to the modified example. In FIG. 3, the same parts as those described above are assigned the same numbers, and the description of the parts will be omitted. In the washing machine 1 of the above-described embodiment, the rotating member 8 is formed flat in the vertical direction and is covered from the upper side Z1 by the partition member 5 so as not to come into contact with the cleaning object Q. As in the modified example shown in FIG. 3, the rotating member 8 may be a so-called pulsator, and the top plate portion 20 in this case has a shape that rises to the cleaning region 16. In this case, the partition member 5 is omitted, but the supply path 25A described above is formed between the outer peripheral portion of the rotating member 8 and the outer edge portion 4E of the outer portion 4D of the second bottom wall 4A of the inner tank 4. To. The supply path 25A and the outflow path 15 are blocked by the above-mentioned blocking section 4I.

The rotating member 8 according to the modified example agitates the cleaning object Q by coming into contact with the cleaning object Q while rotating in the cleaning step. At that time, as in the above-described embodiment, the water around the rotating member 8 flows to the outer side R2 in the radial direction through each of the water channels 23 of the rotating member 8, and the object to be cleaned Q of the cleaning region 16 from each supply path 25. (See solid arrow). The water supplied to the cleaning region 16 passes through the first path K1 (see the broken line arrow) composed of the through hole 4G, the gap W, and the gap V, or through the guide flow path 18 and the outflow path 15. It circulates back to the periphery of the rotating member 8 by passing through the configured second path K2 (see the arrow of the alternate long and short dash line).

Further, the above-mentioned rotation axis J may extend vertically along the vertical direction Z, or may be slightly inclined with respect to the vertical direction Z.

1 Washer 3 Outer tank 3A 1st bottom wall 3B 1st peripheral wall 4 Inner tank 4A 2nd bottom wall 4B 2nd peripheral wall 4G through hole 4I Blocking wall 4J Guide part 8 Rotating member 11 1st internal space 12 2nd internal space 15 Outflow path 16 Cleaning area 18 Guide flow path 18A Intake port 19A Filter member 25 Supply path J Rotation axis Q Cleaning object R2 Radial outside Z1 Upper side

Claims (5)

It has a first bottom wall, an annular first peripheral wall rising from the first bottom wall, and a first internal space surrounded by the first bottom wall and the first peripheral wall, and the first internal space has The outer tank where water is stored and
A second bottom wall arranged above the first bottom wall, an annular second peripheral wall rising from the second bottom wall and surrounded by the first peripheral wall, the second bottom wall and the second peripheral wall. It has a second internal space surrounded by, and through holes for passing water to and from the outer tank are formed in the second bottom wall and the second peripheral wall, and the second inner space is cleaned. The inner tank that houses the object and
A rotating member arranged on the upper side of the second bottom wall in the second internal space, and a rotating member that allows surrounding water to flow in a direction away from the rotation axis of the rotating member by rotating.
A supply path for supplying water flowing in a direction away from the rotation axis due to the rotation of the rotating member to a cleaning region where an object to be cleaned is arranged above the rotating member in the second internal space.
Wherein the said through hole in the second bottom wall provided separately, viewed contains a outlet channel for outflow of water of the washing zone to said rotary member,
The through hole formed in the second bottom wall is arranged at a position distant from the first through hole on the rotation axis side and the rotation axis from the first through hole, and makes the outflow path the first through hole. second through hole and the including communicating from the upper side into the gap between the bottom wall and the second bottom wall, washer. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a blocking portion provided on the second bottom wall and blocking between the supply passage and the outflow passage. A guide flow path extending upward from the outflow path in the cleaning area and having an intake port at the upper part for taking in water in the cleaning area .
The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, which includes a filter member provided at the intake port . Any one of claims 1 to 3, which includes a partition member that vertically partitions the second internal space into a cleaning area and an arrangement area where the rotating member is arranged located below the cleaning area. The washing machine described in the section . The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a guide portion formed on the second bottom wall and guiding water flowing through the outflow passage to the rotating member.

Images